Video: Jaunty new messages for motorists being trialled on the M1

Damien Lucas

A set of new messages for motorists will be trialled on the M1 in a bid to improve safety and make using the motorway ‘more enjoyable’ during roadworks.

Long-suffering motorists are getting a ‘welcoming’ set of new signs to make their time on major roadworks safer and more enjoyable.

The new road signs being trialled on the M1 are designed to make people drive safer through the road works. Photo: SWNS

The jaunty messages include ‘Welcome to our work zone’, ‘Somebody loves you, drive carefully’ and ‘No one likes a tailgater’.

Another tells drivers: ‘Broken down? We’ll come to you’.

The Government says the signs will ‘improve our customers’ experience’ of roads.

They also claim the orange and white messages will be clearer and easier to process for motorists and improve safety.

The new road signs being trialled on the M1 are designed to make people drive safer through the road works. Photo: SWNS

A Highways England spokesman said: “Over the next five years we will be delivering £11 billion worth of investment.

“With this unprecedented level of work planned on our roads, it is more important than ever that we make the experience of driving through roadworks better for customers.

“We will give people better information about why the roadworks are there and we will make the temporary signage a lot clearer, so drivers will be less likely to make mistakes, resulting in a safer environment for all.

“This approach is one of a number of measures, as set out in our Delivery Plan, designed to improve our customers’ experience of our roads.

The new road signs being trialled on the M1 are designed to make people drive safer through the road works. Photo: SWNS

“This includes working with our suppliers to reduce the time taken to complete roadworks.”

The new signs are being trialled at four different sets of roadworks around England, both long and short-term.

The M1, A21 in Kent, A40 in Gloucestershire and M3 in Surrey are the trial roads.

There will also be enhanced roadside information, including more real time journey data both ahead of and within roadworks.